Typographical distributing apparatus for slug casting machines



J. F. BETTIN 2,212,225 GAL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS FOR SLUG CASTINGMACHINES Aug. 20, 1940.

TYPOGRAPHI Filed June 3, 1940 l lllllIllllll llI ll ll-lldllllLfllllljrllilil l ljl L I. LLIIIJIIII Patented Aug. 20, 1949 starsTYEQGRAPHECAL DES'XREBEJTING AiZIllRl-iw TUS Filth. SLUG CASTINGWEAUHENES Claims.

My invention relates to typographical distributing apparatus for slugcasting machines, such as Linotype machines, Intertype machines, etc.

An important object of the invention is to pro-.

vide a pi-matrices stacker device, which will receive and hold thesorts-matrices, against stacking or displacement and which will permitof the ready release of the pressure upon the column oi sorts-matricesso that a selected sortsmatrix may be removed without removing adja centsorts-matrices by contact therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide yielding means toadvance the resistantblock' toward the sorts-matrices for porperlyholding them within the pi-rnatrices stacker and to automatically shiftthe resistant-block forwardly toward the star-wheel when sorts-matrix orsorts-matrices are removed whereby the group of sorts-matrices areproperly held, when the length of the group increases or decreases.

A further object of the invention is to provide releasable latch meansto hold the resistantblock against movement toward the star-wheel,whereby pressure may be removed from the group of sorts-matrices, whenit is desired to remove a selected sorts-matrix.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part i of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts through out thesame,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my pi-matrices stacker device, showingthe same applied to a Linotype machine,

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical longi tudinal section throughthe sorts-matrices return tube and associated elements, parts beingshown in elevation,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the pi-matrices stacker device, separatedfrom the tube,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 4- 1 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, 1

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on line EB. of

Figure 3, and,

Figure 7 is an end elevation of a slightly modified form of latch-bar.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention A; designates the ordinary magazineof a Linotype machine, in which is stored the usual complement ofmatrices, and B is a return tube for the sorts-matrices. G is a pulleyappliedto one of the ordinary shafts of the Linotype machine and thispulley drives a belt F. The foregoing description is that of the 5ordinary Linotype machine as shown in Letters Patent 630,112, issued toJ. R. Rogers, under date of August 1, 1899. While the invention is shownas applied to one type of slug casting machine,

such as a Linotype machine, it is not restricted 10 to this application,as it may be applied to any type of slug casting machine.

The numeral Iii designates the pi-matrices stacker as a whole, which issuitably secured to a stationary arm H and to a throat 12, formed uponthe lower end of the tube 13. The pimatrices stacker may'be supported byany suitable means and is preferably arranged at the front of themachine, in proximity to the keyboard, so that the sorts-matrices may beremoved from the pi-matrices stacker by hand and delivered to thecomposing devices of the Linotype machine.

The pi-matrices stacker comprises a shelf or ledge 13 and a back 14. Thenumeral I5 is the pi-matrix stop which is adjustably mounted upon theledge l3 within the throat [Zand is clamped in the selected adjustedposition by a set screw [6 engaging within a slot 17. One end of thegroup or row of the sorts-matrices is pressed against the pi-matrix stopl5. Arranged within the throat l 2 is a rotary star-wheel i8, mountedupon a rotary shaft 19 driven by a pulley 23, in turn driven by the beltF. The star-wheel I3 is shown as having four points and each point isadapted-to project radially slightly beyond the leading edge of thepi-matrix stop E5. The invention is not restricted to the use of astarwheel having four points as a star-wheel having two points may beused, as shown in Patent 1,886,099, issued to J. H. Hilpman, November 1,1932.

That side of the throat i2 and tube B toward the leading end of thepi-matrices stacker is formed open so that the sorts-matrices fallingdown the return tube B will engage with the star-wheel i8 and be fedthereby into the pimatrices stacker in an upright position to produce anassembled row.

I provide a combined guide and brake device, comprising a gate 2!,pivoted at 22 upon a stationary bracket 23. This gate has a weight 24which swings the lower end of the gate into the bore of the tube B. Thegate 21 serves to retain the thin sorts-matrices in the upright posi-I3. The latch-bar is supported to turn upon tion when traveling throughthe tube and to somewhat break the fall of the thicker and heaviersorts-matrices.

The numeral 25 designates a self-acting resistant-block, having ahorizontal base 25 provided with a longitudinal groove 27, .passingthrough its bottom. This groove receives the vertical arm 28 of a guide29 having a lower horizontal arm 38. The vertical arm 28 operates withinan elongated slot 3! while the horizontal arm 31? operates within alower recess 32. The vertical arm of the guide is heldwithin the slot 2?by a transverse pin 33. It is thus seen that the resistant-block orelement 25 is mounted to move longitudinally of the ledge i3 and isguided in such movement.

The vertical arm 28 is provided with a longitudinal opening or port St,to' receive one end of. a flexible element, wire or cable 35, preferablyhaving its free end knotted. This flexible element passes over a groovedpulley 38 carried by a shaft 31, arranged adjacent to the pi matrix stop15, as shown. The opposite end of the flexible element 35 passes over aguide-pulley 38, and is wound upon a drum 39 and has its opposite endattached to this drum. This drum 3%, Figure 6, has a hub it) and thishub is rigidly mounted upon a horizontal shaft ll. The shaft M isrotatable within openings 42 formed in plates G3 rigidly secured to theledge l3 and depending therefrom. The space between the plates 53 iscovered by a housing element 44, this element and the platesconstituting a housing. The numeral 45 designates a spring-holdinghousing having openings or slots 66 within which the hub 50 is rotatablymounted. The housing 455 is held in place by a screw ll. Arranged withinthe housing 45 is a spring 48, one end of which is attached to the hubAll and the opposite end of which is anchored to the housing 45, asshown at 49. The spring is tensioned to turn the hub 50 clockwise, inFigure 4. This clockwise movement of the drum 36 will cause the flexibleelement to wind upon the drum and hence shift the resistant-block orelement 25 tothe left, Figure 4.

Extending longitudinally of the ledge l3, adjacent to its free edge is ahorizontal latch-bar 5|, provided at its ends with trunnions or pivots52 which are pivotally mounted in brackets 53 and 54, which are rigidlyattached to the ledge its longitudinal axis and the trunnions 52 arenearer the inner edge of. the latch-bar. The latch-bar is provided nearits longitudinal center with ratchet teeth 55 which face toward theleading edge of the pi-matrices stacker or to the right, Figure 3. Thelatch-bar 5| is held in its normal transverse horizontal position byleafsprings 56, engaging beneath the same and these leaf-springs arefixed to the ledge I3. The downward movement or the outer edge of thelatchbar 5| is limited by stops 51.

The invention is not limited to the use of leaf.- springs for returningthe latch-bar to the normal transverse horizontal position. In Figure'7, I have shown the latch-bar provided at its inner longitudinal edgewith a weight 58 which returns I the latch-bar to the normal transversehorizontal position. I may use either the spring or the weight.

A dog or pawl 59 extends transversely of the resistant-block and isarranged within a transverse slot 68 therein and is pivotally mounted tothe base 26 as shown at 62. This .dog is gravity operated and isprovided at its free end with a is depressed, the ratchet tooth 55 ismoved out of, engagement with the jaw 63, and the spring will then shiftthe resistant-block or element 25 to the left, Figure 3.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

After the casting of the type, the ordinary matrices are returnedthrough the distributing mechanism to the magazine from which theystarted. The sorts-matrices are also returned through the distributingmechanism and are returned through the tube B to the pi-matrices stackerdevice. As the matrix gravitates' down the tube B it assumes a positionin advance of. the star-wheel l8 and when the star-wheel is turned thesorts-matrix is lowered and shifted to the right, Figure 2, moving theresistant-block or element 25 to the right in opposition to the spring48. The operation is repeated until all sorts-matrices are returned tothe ledge l3. When the operator desires to use a selected sortsmatrix,he first shifts the resistant-block or element 25 to the right, for oneor more teeth 55 and the dog 59 and the coacting tooth 55 will now holdthe resistant-block or element out of contact with the end of the groupof sorts-matrices. This will relieve the pressure between the severalsorts-matrices and the selected sorts-matrix may then be removed, andafter this the operator may depress the outer edge of. the latch-bar 55,conveniently adjacent to the point of removal of the sorts-matrix andthis will release the resistantblock 25 and the spring will thenautomatically shift it tothe left so that it will again engage the endof the group of sorts-matrices for holding the sorts-matrices in thegroup in the upright position. As the star-wheel l8 continues to rotate,it will feed the sorts-matrices in succession into the pi-matricesstacker thus increasing the length of the group and shifting theresistantblock 25 to the right.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stackerhaving a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge so that thesortsmatrices will be supported on end by the ledge, a resistant elementto apply pressure to the group of sorts-matrices, means to move theresistant element toward the group of sorts-matrices to apply thepressure thereto, and releasable latch means to hold the resistantelement against the action of the yielding means and including a memberhaving a group of teeth extending longitudinally of the ledge and acoacting dog, the member and dog being relatively movable for effectinga disengagement betweenthe same.

2. In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stackerhaving a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge to form agroup thereon, a resistant element movable longitudinally of the ledge,yielding means to move the resistant element to apply pressure to thesortsmatrices, a member having a group of teeth extending longitudinallyof the ledge, and a dog connected with the resistant element forengaging the teeth.

3. In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stackerhaving a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge to form agroup thereon, a resistant element movable longitudinally of the ledge,yielding means to move the resistant element to apply pressure to thesorts-matrices, a group of teeth extending longitudinally of thepi-matrices stacker, a dog connected with the resistant element forengaging the teeth, the dog and group of teeth being relatively movablefor efiecting a disengagement between the same.

4. In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stackerhaving a ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge to form agroup thereon, a resistant element movable longitudinally of the ledge,yielding means to move the resistant element in one direction to applypres- I sure to the sorts-matrices, a latch-bar extending longitudinallyof the pi-matrices stacker and pivotally supported to turn upon itslongitudinal axis and having a longitudinal group of teeth, and a dogcarried by the resistant element and arranged to engage the teeth.

In a typographical distributing apparatus, a pi-matrices stacker havinga ledge, means to feed sorts-matrices to the ledge to form a groupthereon, a resistant element movable longitudinally of the ledge,yielding means to automatically move the resistant element in onedirection to apply pressure to the sorts-matrices, a latchbar extendinglongitudonally of the pi-matrices stacker and pivotally supported toturn upon its longitudinal axis, said latch-bar having a group of teethupon its upper surface, a dog movably mounted. upon the resistantelement to engage the teeth, said dog having a limited downwardmovement, the teeth disengaging the dog when the outer edge of thelatch-bar is depressed, and means to return the latch-bar to the normalposition after it is depressed and released.

6. In a typographical distributing aparatus, a p-i-matrices stackerhaving a ledge, said ledge having a stop, means to feed sorts-matricesto the ledge in advance of the stop to form a group of the same upon theledge, a resistant element mounted upon the ledge to move longitudinallythereof, a pulley, a flexible element secured to the resistant elementand passed about the pulley,

a rotary drum having the flexible element secured thereto and upon whichthe flexible element is wound, a spring to turn the drum in onedirection, and releasable latch means for holding the resistantelementagainst movement in opposition to the action of the spring.

JULIUS F. BETTIN.

